It’s the Hypocrisy, Stupid.

The recent flap over SC Governor what-his-name (Mark Sanford) who apparently went  MIA so that he could spend a little quality time with the woman he was having an affair with– has me a little puzzled. Puzzled, that is,  in that the Republicans aren’t demanding his resignation. Though I suppose I respect him for not simply tendering the resignation and walking away….

This guy apparently was one of the Republicans who were all claiming that  Bill Clinton’s dalliances rose to the level of treason and high crimes and misdemeanors… and whoa, wait, look at him (Sanford) now. (hey, at least everyone KNEW where Clinton was…)

Personally, I don’t think that someone’s marital life or sexual escapades or anything else generally has an impact on whether or not they can do their jobs. I do have a big problem with hypocrisy, though, and with the “it’s ok if you’re a ____ (insert political party here)” attitude. (I do not think that Bill Clinton’s actions were “OK” just because he’s a Democrat. Tacky and in extremely poor taste? Sure. High Crimes and Misdemeanors? Umm, on what planet?)

Usually when people say “It’s not about the sex, it’s about the lying,” as one comedian pointed out not long ago–It’s really about the sex.  But I think in this case I feel ok speaking for nearly every one of the progressives/liberals that I know in saying: We don’ t care about the sex, we don’t care at all who you are sleeping with, Mr. Governor, Mr. President,  Madame Speaker. We just want you to do your damn jobs, and don’t be hypocritical in the process. Is that really so much to ask?

Well, apparently it is, for the moment. But the times they may be a-changing, who knows.

It’s long past time that we stopped pretending that public figures don’t have affairs, have seedy sex, make mistakes, and so on and so forth. The Democrats, Greenies, and doubtless even the screaming loonie party (in the UK) (I never get their name right…) probably do it too. Can’t we just stop being hypocrites, concentrate on doing our jobs, and get on with it? We’ve got people living in tents in America now and a car wreck can leave you homeless and your families financial future ruined.

I don’t give a damn about this guy’s personal life, and I don’t think you should either, but in the meantime, I think people like him (read: all politicians) should ALSO stop trying to meddle in everyone else’s personal lives. We’ve got bigger freakin’ fish to fry, we really do… with all apologies to Mrs. Sanford, who no doubt deserved better.

June 29, 2009  Tags: , , ,   Posted in: Insane

One Response

  1. Tipsy Dazy - August 4, 2009

    I’m assuming that You’re assuming politicians MEAN something when they speak. Therefore you may think it is logical to believe there is hypocrisy involved when one politician commits an equal or greater “sin” that he or she may have railed against a fellow politician for. This would be a natural response if we were typically working with people of any consistent moral principles.

    However I’m coming to think that many of our fellows in office work on in a framework of ever redefining principles. It’s kind of like that formless and void thing Genesis speaks about. Of course there is no light either. In fact, light is a BIG no no in this framework.

    And with them having their way with what they define as the argument, it’s like the blind leading the blinded. Shall we follow them all into a ditch of confused arguments which by design tend to only excite the emotions and leave the emotional/intellectual parts of man disconnected?

    Me thinks there are other more relevant things to focus on than some bloke’s mistress. He isn’t a designated spiritual figure after all.

    But we have children being educated to become corporate drones rather than educating them as human beings in a world of other human beings, seemingly excessive imbalances in quality of life and rights & privileges in the world with people recognized for their wealth rather than their human standing, a mass mindset run amuck by an irresponsible press, western health care with limited, non-guaranteed effectiveness sold at a premium’s premium, a US fiscal policy that is essentially a death spiral (what, cure extreme over indebtedness with more extreme debt?….come on, a fourth grader could get it), poor national health fed by all the mandated pharmaceutical products in what we eat, and so on.

    And yes, we’ve got bigger fish to fry. Just remember, he who defines the debate, wins the debate. Look around and see who is defining our conversations. Then maybe look within and try to find what in the world you see is important to help all mankind. A little work in this direction could do us all some good.

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